Bird-watchers with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources say six pairs of piping plovers managed to "fledge" eight chicks in Sussex County this year - four each at The Point and at Gordons Pond at Cape Henlopen State Park.

The oceanside beach at The Point is expected to reopen to the public by this Labor Day weekend, while the beach at the bayside will stay closed until October.

DNREC says two of the plovers that nested in Delaware this season were previously fitting with leg bands for monitoring in New Jersey.

Scientists will monitor them to see if they return to Delaware to nest in the future.